The Day of Doom Or, a Poetical Description of the Great and Last Judgement

Transcriber’s Note: Biblical references were originally included as side notes instead of footnotes. The references for each stanza have been compiled into one footnote, since they mostly apply generically to the actions of the stanza. The summaries, which were also side notes, have been relocated to come before the stanza they correspond to.

The Day of Reckoning;

Or, a
Poetical Description
Of the
Great and Final
JUDGMENT:
With Other Poems.

By

Michael Wigglesworth, A.M.,
Teacher of the Church in Malden, New England,

Also a memoir of the author, autobiography, and outline of his funeral sermon by Rev. Cotton Mather.

Acts 17:31. Because he has set a Day when he will judge the world fairly by the Man he has chosen.

Mat. 24:30. At that time, the sign of the Son of Man will show up in heaven, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

From the 6th Edition, 1715.

New York;
American News Company.
1867.

Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1867, by

Wm. Henry Burr

in the Clerk’s office of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

C. S. Westcott & Co., Printers, 79 John Street.

The following is the content of an article published in the “New England Historical and Genealogical Register,” for April, 1863, written by John Ward Dean, Esq., of Boston:

A hundred years ago, no poem was more popular in New England than Wigglesworth’s Day of Doom. Francis Jenks, Esq., wrote in an article in the Christian Examiner for November 1828, describing it as “a work that was taught to our ancestors alongside their catechisms, and which many older individuals we know can still recite, even if they haven't seen a copy since childhood; a work that was sold all over the country, printed on sheets like common ballads; and, in short, a work that truly reflects the dominant theology of New England at the time it was created, and which Mather believed might, ‘perhaps, be passed down to our children until the Day itself arrives.’”

The popularity of Wigglesworth started with the release of his poem and lasted for over a hundred years. It conveyed the theology they believed in using serious language, vividly depicting the horrors of judgment day and the terrifying anger of an offended God. This approach appealed to the fervent Puritans, who weren’t particularly interested in elaborate rhyme or literary quality. Young people consumed its chilling themes eagerly, recoiling from its harsh condemnation of sin. At night, they envisioned its terrifying imagery and were pushed to seek the “ark of safety” from God’s wrath. However, in the last century, the reputation of the Day of Doom has declined, and nowadays, few people know it except by name.

The author of this book, whose wand had conjured such frightening images, was neither a cynic nor a misanthrope, even though illness, which usually highlights these traits when they’re present, had long been his fate. His frail body and poor health were paired with friendly manners; and, although he experienced bouts of sadness, he generally managed to keep a positive attitude, to the point that some of his friends thought his ailments were just in his head.

Rev. Michael Wigglesworth was born on October 28, 1631, probably in Yorkshire, England. He was brought to this country in 1638 when he was seven years old, but we don’t know which ship he traveled on. His father, Edward Wigglesworth, was one of those determined Puritans who, along with their families, sought a place where they could practice their religion freely in the then New England wilderness, a journey from their homes in England that is hard to comprehend today. Here, they faced harsh climates and terrifying dangers from nearby Native tribes, all while working together to build villages that would later become cities, still holding some traits of their Puritan founders. The determination and strength of character that overcame every challenge served as a tough training ground for the children of that time. It’s no surprise that a father who sacrificed so much for his beliefs would want his only son to become a clergyman; even though his father’s resources were limited, the son was dedicated to the ministry and received a solid education. After nearly three years of prep studies, Michael entered Harvard College in 1647. There, he was fortunate to have the excellent Jonathan Mitchell as his tutor, known as “the glory of the college” and celebrated for his preaching. Their friendship seems to have lasted even after they left college. The eight stanzas “on the following work and its author,” signed J. Mitchel, were likely written by that tutor and preacher, who was also from Yorkshire, the same county where Wigglesworth is believed to have been born.

In 1651, Mr. Wigglesworth graduated and was soon appointed a tutor at the College. Some of his students became notable figures in their time. Among them were Rev. Shubael Dummer from York, Me.; Rev. John Eliot from Newton; and Rev. Samuel Torry from Weymouth; but the most distinguished was Rev. Increase Mather, D.D., pastor of the second church in Boston and president of Harvard College for sixteen years. Evidence of the tutor's dedication can be found in the summary of the funeral sermon included in this work, preached by Rev. Cotton Mather, D.D., Increase's son, who likely got his information from his father.

While he was a tutor, he prepared himself for the ministry and, before his father's death, preached several times. He was invited, likely in the autumn of 1654, to settle in Malden as the successor to Rev. Marmaduke Matthews, but due to prolonged illness, he wasn't ordained there until 1656. The exact date of his ordination isn't known, but it must have been after August 25, 1656, since his letter of dismissal from the church in Cambridge is dated then. This letter, addressed to the “Church of Christ at Maldon,” states that “the good hand of Divine Providence has so arranged that our beloved and highly esteemed brother, Mr. Wigglesworth, has his residence and is engaged in the good work of the Lord among you, and has reason to request from us Dismissive Letters to your church in order for him to join as a member with you.”

The poor health that had postponed his ordination in Malden came back soon after he settled there, disrupting his ministry for several years. He took a trip to Bermuda, leaving on September 23, 1663, and was gone for about seven and a half months. However, the long and rough journey seems to have worsened his health so much that the change of climate provided him little relief, and he returned feeling very discouraged. He received a warm welcome from his friends and parishioners.

While he was kept from his ministry, he spent his time working on his writing. His Day of Doom was published around 1662, the year before he traveled to Bermuda. The first edition, which had 1,800 copies, sold well within a year and brought some profit to the author. Given the population and wealth of New England at that time, this shows an almost remarkable popularity similar to that of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

While he was away on his journey for health, on December 9, 1663, Rev. Benjamin Bunker was ordained as the pastor of the church in Malden. At this time, there seemed to be a distinction in New England between pastor and teacher. Wigglesworth refers to Bunker as “pastor” in some verses written after his death, while on the title page of his work, he calls himself “teacher.” After Wigglesworth became the sole minister, he was likely recognized as the pastor. Bunker held this position for over six years until his death on February 3, 1669-70; in the elegy for his colleague, Wigglesworth praised Bunker’s piety and contributions highly. The next colleague of our author was Rev. Benjamin Blackman, who began his service around 1674. He served for over four years and left in 1679. His next colleague was Rev. Thomas Cheever, the son of his early teacher, the renowned New England schoolmaster, Ezekiel Cheever, who authored Latin Accidence. All three ministers were educated at Harvard College, with Bunker graduating in 1658, Blackman in 1663, and Cheever in 1677. Mr. Cheever started preaching at Malden on February 14, 1679-80, was ordained on July 27, 1681, and was dismissed on May 20, 1686.

Wigglesworth, although he had been unable to serve due to illness for a long time, never stepped down from his role as minister, as seen in a letter he wrote to Samuel Sprague on July 22, 1687. He was now the sole minister of the church. However, he had regained some of his health around this time, which had deteriorated for nearly twenty years, and for the rest of his life, he remained actively useful in public service.

He died on Sunday morning, June 10, 1705, at the age of 74. The epitaph on the last page of this work is thought to have been written by Cotton Mather, as it shows up in the appendix to his funeral sermon credited to “one who had been pleased by his Meat out of the Eater and Day of Doom.”

Mr. Wigglesworth had at least three wives: Mary, daughter of Humphrey Reyner from Rowley; Martha, whose maiden name was likely Mudge; and Sybil, the widow of Dr. Jonathan Avery from Dedham, and daughter of Nathaniel Sparhawk from Cambridge.

By his first wife, he had (1) Mercy born in February 1655-56; she married first, [Samuel?] Brackenbury, with whom she had at least one son, William; she married second, [Rev. Samuel.?] Belcher.

By his second wife, Martha, who died on September 11, 1690, at age 28, he had:— (2) Abigail, born March 20, 1681; married Samuel Tappan on December 23, 1700;— (3) Mary, born September 21, 1682; unmarried in 1708;— (4) Martha, born December 21, 1683; married Wheeler;— (5) Esther, born April 16, 1685; married first, John Sewall, on June 8, 1708, who died in 1711; married second, Abraham Tappan, on October 21, 1713;— (6) Dorothy, born February 22, 1687-88; married James Upham on June 2, 1709;— (7) Rev. Samuel, born February 4, 1689-90, died September 3, 1768. By his third wife, Sybil, who died on August 6, 1708, at age 53, he had:— (8) Prof. Edward, D.D., born around 1692, died January 16, 1765.

Rev. Samuel Wigglesworth, the older son, settled in Hamilton Parish, Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1714. He married first, Mary, daughter of John Brintnal, of Winnisimmet, on June 30, 1715, who died on June 6, 1723, at age 28, having given him four children: Mary, Michael, Martha, and Phebe. He married Martha Brown on March 12, 1730, and they had nine children.

Edward Wigglesworth, D.D., the younger son, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1710 and focused on studying Divinity. He preached for a while in various parishes and in 1722 became the Hollis Professor of Divinity at Harvard College. Shortly after, he was elected as one of the fellows of the corporation. He had one son, who took over as Hollis Professor at the same college, and one surviving daughter, who married Prof. Sewall.

The following are the different editions of the Day of Doom, as far as we have been able to determine:

The first edition was published in 1661 or 1662, and the second came out four years later. This information comes from notes by the author, which are printed in the Historical Magazine for December 1863. An edition was published in London, England, without the author's name, in 1673. This was likely the third impression; the date of the fourth is unknown. The fifth edition is said to have been released in 1701. Mr. Dean has conducted thorough searches and made repeated inquiries but has only been able to find two or three copies of the 1673 edition, along with several fragments that must have been parts of some of the other editions.

There was an edition published in Newcastle, England, in 1711. The next edition came out in 1715, titled “the 6th edition, enlarged, with Scripture and marginal notes”—“printed by John Allen, for Benjamin Eliot, at his shop on King Street.” From this edition, which was clearly the seventh, the current one is reprinted, having been carefully compared with the 1673 version. Another edition was released in 1751, “Printed and sold by Thomas Fleet, at the Heart and Crown, in Cornhill,” Boston. The next edition came out in 1811, “Published by E. Little & Company, Newburyport,” Mass. The last edition before this one was published in Boston in 1828 by Charles Ewer.

Besides the Day of Doom, Mr. Wigglesworth published, in 1669, “Meat out of the Eater; or, Meditations concerning the necessity and usefulness of Afflictions unto God’s Children.” The “fourth edition” came out in 1689, followed by additional editions in 1717 and 1770. In 1686, he delivered an Election Sermon, which was printed by the colony. Among his unpublished works is a poem titled “God’s Controversy with New England, written during the great Drought, Anno 1662. By a lover of New England’s prosperity.”

Mr. Wigglesworth didn’t take much from other poets, and what he did take was likely from the commentaries and theological texts that filled his library, rather than from the poets themselves. His style isn’t completely straightforward, as there are parts of his work that are genuinely poetic in both thought and expression, showing that he had the potential to be recognized as a better poet than he is today. The roughness of his verses was definitely not due to carelessness or laziness, as neither was typical of him. The real reason might be that he prioritized his theological beliefs over his poetic sensibility, willing to write in awkward verses to convey sound doctrine.

The author of the Day of Doom, from the strictest group of Puritans, was, like many others in that group, a person of deep compassion for others. Rev. Dr. Peabody describes him as “a man of the beatitudes.” His obedience to the highest moral standards gave a divine glow to his example and a sweet memory that lingered on. The clergy of his time were seriously dedicated to their faith and showed passionate devotion. They were devoted Bible scholars and prayerful individuals. Even those who disagree with their beliefs acknowledge that they had strong morals; that, even if they were mistaken in their faith, they lived rightly; that, although their beliefs were limited, their hearts were bright; and that, while they might not have seen the additional light that the holy Robinson predicted would come from God’s Word, they sincerely embraced the light they did understand. They were patient, hopeful, humble, believing, and faithful. They operated on a higher level than those who came after them and had a proportionately greater influence over their congregations. Their people respected them, regularly attended their services, and willingly accepted their leadership.

I was born to God-fearing parents who deeply respected the Lord from a young age, but in a sinful environment where most people mocked rather than followed their faith; a place where, as far as I knew, children learned wickedness early on; a place that was largely destroyed by fire after God had saved them from it. My devout parents faced opposition and persecution for their beliefs, as they left their parish church to hear the word and partake in the Lord's Supper, and decided to uproot their lives and move to New England. They left behind dear relatives, friends, and acquaintances, their homeland, a newly built house, and a thriving business to face the dangers of the sea and the harsh challenges of a wild land, all for the sake of religious freedom and the ordinances of Christ. The Lord brought them here and landed them in Charlestown after many challenges, with me as a child not quite seven years old. After about seven weeks in Charlestown, my parents sailed to New Haven in October. During our journey, we faced great danger from a storm that pushed us onto a sandy beach where we remained until the tide lifted us off; however, God safely brought us to our destination. As winter approached, we lived in a cellar partially underground, covered with earth for our first winter. I remember one heavy rain that poured in on us and soaked me in my sleep, causing me to fall ill; but the Lord, in His mercy, spared my life and restored my health. The following summer, I was sent to school with Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, who taught in his own home. Under his guidance, I made significant progress in a year or two, learning Latin and advancing quickly. However, God, who is infinitely wise and absolutely sovereign, and doesn’t have to explain His actions, decided at this time to afflict my father with lameness, which worsened until his death, although he lived with it for 13 years. He needed help and had to pull me out of school to take on other work for three or four years, causing me to lose everything I had gained in Latin. When I was fourteen, my father, unhappy about keeping me from the education I had been meant for since childhood and not thinking I was suited for farming, sent me back to school, even though I had little interest at the time. I was willing to comply with his wishes and returned to school, albeit with significant disadvantages and discouragement, seeing those who were far less capable than me advance while I had fallen behind. However, soon it became clear that God was facilitating my efforts and blessing my studies, as I quickly regained what I had lost and gained even more. In two years and three quarters, I was deemed ready for college and sent there far from my parents and friends, among strangers. But when both my father and mother had to let me go, the Lord took care of me. It was a significant act of self-denial for my father, who, despite his lameness and bodily weakness requiring a son’s support, chose to forgo the comfort and assistance I could have provided him for my own benefit. That was also a clear indication of his strong faith, as he dared to send me to college, despite having a modest estate barely sufficient to support himself and his small family left at home. God allowed him to live long enough to see how pleasing this sacrifice was in offering his only son to the Lord for education, especially given the genuine expression of his faith and self-denial. For one, despite his physical frailty, he lived until I had progressed to the point of being called to be a fellow at the college and to serve in public duties there. He even lived long enough to witness and hear what God had done for my soul, drawing me from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, which filled his heart with joy and gratitude beyond words. Furthermore, his financial situation improved rather than declined despite the expenses incurred for my education; in six years, his assets had clearly doubled, something he noted and shared with me and others as a testimony to God, filled with admiration and thankfulness. After enduring considerable affliction for thirteen years and being a model of faith, patience, humility, and a focus on heavenly things, having completed his work in educating me and receiving an answer to his prayers, God took him to His Heavenly Rest, where he now enjoys the fruits of his labors. When I first arrived at college, I had benefited from a strict religious education, and God, in His mercy and compassion, kept me from scandalous sins before and after my arrival. However, I had a wicked, sinful heart influenced by a corrupt nature, so I had no noble goals and acted out of selfish ambition. While I was indeed diligent and strived to surpass my peers, it was for honor, recognition, and selfish gains. Thus, my goals and God's purposes were vastly different, yet He still blessed my studies, helping me grow in knowledge of languages, arts, and theology. But after about three and a half years, God, in His love and mercy for my soul, brought about a significant change in both my heart and life, and from that point on, I learned to study with and for God. Whereas I had previously considered pursuing a career in medicine, I completely abandoned those aspirations and chose to serve Christ in the ministry if He would prepare me for it and accept my service in that noble work.

Note.—In the autobiography above, the original spelling is kept. In the poems that follow, the spelling has been updated. The use of the acute accent (’) shows how the final ed was once pronounced as a separate syllable; in other exceptional cases, the old apostrophe is kept. In a few instances, the ending tion is split with a hyphen to indicate its pronunciation as two syllables (she-on). Modern double quotation marks are also used to indicate quotes.

W.H.B.

Reader, I’m a fool,
And I dared
To play the fool this once for Christ,
To spread his fame even more.
If my foolishness
Helps you to be wiser,
I’ve achieved what I want.
And what I truly value.

You might be wondering,
Why I'm appearing in print,
When I stay so close to the pulpit,
Yet seldom make it there.
God in Heaven knows
How much it pains me,
To be kept from serving Christ;
There's no sorrow like this.

This is the deepest pain
That I have felt or feel;
Yet I have endured some blows that might
Make stronger men lose their balance.
I find more genuine joy
In serving the Lord,
Than all the good things on Earth,
Without it, can provide.

And if my strength could last
That work I cherish so much,
Not all the riches of Peru
Could make me give it up.
But I’m a prisoner,
Bound by a heavy chain;
God’s mighty hand of affliction
Keeps me from being free.

Yet some (I know) do judge
My inability
To go out and do Christ’s work.
To be sad;
And that I’m not as weak
As I think I am:
But who in other things have found
Me so full of myself yet?

Or who among all my friends
Who have seen my struggles,
Can tell the time in seven years
When I've been feeling down?
Some think my voice is strong,
Usually when I preach;
But ten days later, what I feel
And endure, few can understand.

My trapped thoughts come out,
When the door is opened.
With more force and intensity,
And my voice strains even more.
But it's pointless to say
That I am getting stronger,
To those who hear me talk for half an hour,
Until I can’t speak anymore.

Some think I’m fine
Because they don’t see my cheer fail,
Or that I’m feeling down,
They think I’m not in pain at all.
If they had felt my grief,
Their courage might have let them down,
And everyone in town (maybe)
Would have known, over and over, what was bothering them.

But why should I complain
When I have such a good God,
Who comforts my heart until
Even when I feel His discipline?
In God, I've found strength,
But I'm tired and worn out.
And I've found joy in Him, even when twenty troubles
Surrounded me.

Nor am I saying this to brag.
But to apologize
For myself, and respond to those
Who lack in kindness.
I am, unfortunately, just as weak.
Impatient as a being,
As most who walk the earth,
And have as flawed a character.

Let God be praised.
Whose eternal strength
Supports me through sufferings
That have lasted more than ten years;
Through whose Almighty power
Even though I am surrounded
By sorrows too numerous to count,
I am still not overwhelmed.

For his sake, I've taken on
This job,
Because I feel I need to honor him
Who has never abandoned me.
I also owe a debt,
To humanity,
And since I have no other means, I want to
Help with my writing.

I would, but oh! my strength.
When tried, proves so small,
That to the ground without effect
My wishes often fall.
Weak minds, and hands, and states,
Great things cannot create;
And so I’ve published this little piece
For your use.

Although it's small,
My good intentions are there.
They're just as valuable as if it had
A larger size.
So accept it with love,
And read it for your benefit;
There’s nothing in it that can harm you,
If you understand it correctly.

The God of Heaven grant
These words travel well,
That you may pay more attention
To the things that bring you peace;
And may you be encouraged
To stay on your guard.
So that Death and Judgment don't arrive
And find you unprepared.

Oh, join in Christ,
And make the Judge your Friend;
Then you will be assured of
A happy, glorious end.
This is the prayer of your true Friend
And Servant for Christ’s sake,
Who, if he had the strength, would not hesitate
To take on more pain for you.

Michael Wigglesworth.

A verse can reach someone who ignores a sermon,
Herbert says it well. Important truths turned into poetry.
A Preacher who values people's souls,
Knows that wrapped in sweetness, truth is more appealing.
  No price is too high, no effort too careful
  To present the truth and lead people’s souls to happiness.

In expensive verses and very hard-hitting rhymes,
You'll find truths that deserve your attention:
No trivialities or fables (what poets often do)
Are here, just valuable things, served with wit.
  Reader, dig in, and if you have good taste,
  You'll compliment the chef and say it’s the best dish.

David’s struggle inspired us to create many Psalms,
From caves, from the depths of graves that sweet Singer
Often tuned his heartfelt notes: for it wasn’t in his peace,
But in the storms that God made him ready to write the most Psalms.
  Struggles turned his pen into poetry,
  Whose serious verses are here before you.

This man, burdened with deep sorrows.
Confined in a sickly cave, he speaks little,
So his pain drives him to write even more.
And to send you advice from beyond the grave.
  One foot in the other world for a long time now,
  Read this, and you’ll say, his heart is all in it.

Oh, happy Cave, that’s turned toward Mount Nebo!
Oh, happy prisoner who’s free
To walk through the other World! The bonds are burned,
(But nothing else) in the fiery furnace.
  Such fires release Saints and set their souls free
  For Christ’s sweet company without being scorched.

Cheer up, dear Soul, even though you're steeped in salty tears
Your spirit is weighed down; even though you feel like you're dying every day;
Your rewards will be joyful when Christ shows up.
To turn our death and suffering into life forever.
  Those who cry now will laugh; the silly laughter
  Of the foolish here will turn to tears later.

Judge rightly, and his restraint is our criticism.
The sins of listeners make preachers silent,
And cause their tongues to stick to the roof of their mouths.
Otherwise, they would freely encourage and challenge those
  Who need it. But from this eater, some food comes.
  And from this great affliction, some good sweetness arises.

In those vast Woods a Christian Poet sings
(Where once only wild Heathens roamed around)
About the future, the ultimate and greatest things
That should always ring out loud in our ears.
  Of terrifying Judgment, Hell, Heaven, Eternity,
  Reader, think often, and let your thoughts be guided.

J. Mitchel.

Oh Dearest, Dread, most glorious King!
I’ll sing of your just Judgments:
Inspire my head and heart,
To sing right, as I wish.
I’ll call on you alone,
For I really dislike
Calling the Muses for help:
That is the un-Christian practice
Of some who want to be seen as Christians,
And yet they worship worse than nothing.
Oh! how much blasphemy
And heathenish impiety
Can be found in Christian poets,
Where heathen gods are praised!
They make Jehovah stand by
While Juno, Venus, Mercury,
With frowning Mars and thundering Jupiter,
Rule the Earth below and Heaven above.
But I have learned to pray to none,
Except to God in Christ alone.
Nor will I praise, not even in jest,
What I know God detests.
I see it as a damning evil
To give God’s praises to the Devil.
You, Christ, are the one I pray to;
I long to display your Glory.
Oh! guide me by your sacred Spirit,
So I can write and create.
That I may praise your holy Name.
And teach the Sons of Men your ways.

I. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Still was the night, calm and bright,
  when everyone lay asleep;
The season was peaceful, and people thought
  it would last forever.
“Soul, relax, let your worries go;
  there’s so much good ahead of you:”
This was their song, over their drinks,
  the evening before.

II. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Wallowing in all kinds of sin,
  vile wretches lay secure;
The best of men had hardly kept
  their lamps in good condition.
Unwise virgins, who through disguise
  were counted among the best,
Had closed their eyes; yes, and the wise
  through laziness and weakness slumbered.

III. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Just like in the past, when people became arrogant,
  and ignored God's warnings.
Those who blocked their ears and refused to listen
  when Mercy tried to warn them,
But followed their own path, without regret,
  until God started to unleash
Destruction upon the World,
  in a fierce downpour;

IV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Who pushed aside the troubling times,
  and buried their worries and fears,
Until they themselves were drowned,
  overwhelmed by unexpected revenge;
So in the end, while people sleep soundly
  in their false sense of safety,
They find themselves caught in a trap
  that comes out of nowhere.

V. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

At midnight, a light breaks through,
  turning night into day,
And quickly a horrifying cry
  frightens the whole world.
Sinners awake, their hearts in pain,
  trembling with shock;
Filled with fear, from what they hear,
  each one gets up.

VI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

They rush out of bed, feeling excited,
  and run to their windows.
Seeing this light, which shines brighter
  than the midday sun.
Right away, they see (they see it with tears)
  the Son of God, most awesome,
Who comes with His entourage quickly
  to judge both the living and the dead.

VII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Before him, the heavens part,
  and the skies are ripped apart.
With a powerful voice and terrifying noise,
  scarier than thunder.
His brightness dims the glorious lights of heaven
  and makes them hide their heads;
As if scared and completely shaken,
  they leave their usual places.

VIII.

You sons of men who dared to ignore
  the warnings of God’s Word,
How do you feel now? I bet your hearts
  are pierced like with a sword.
Now blind Atheist, whose stubborn mind
  could never recognize God,
Do you see it now, do you believe
  that Christ will be your Judge?

IX.

Stout Courages, (whose toughness
  could stand up to Death and Hell,)
Are you still brave, now that you see
  your Judge coming close?
They cry, “No, no, Oh no!
  our courage is all gone:
Our boldness (foolish boldness)
  has led us to ruin, ruin!“

X. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

No heart so brave, but now feels cold,
  and nearly lifeless with fear;
No eye so dry can’t now cry,
  and shed many a tear.
Earth’s leaders and powerful States,
  Captains and strong Men,
Are completely shaken, their courage taken,
  at this most terrifying sight.

XI. ⁹
Mean men complain, great men rent
  their robes and tear their hair;
They don’t hold back from hurting themselves
  in the depths of despair.
All families mourn; all hearts break;
  Horror fills the world
With tearful eyes and loud cries,
  yet does not know how to end it.

XII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Some hide in caves and tunnels,
  in places underground:
Some recklessly jump into the deep,
  thinking they can escape by drowning:
Some run to the rocks (oh, foolish ones!)
  and overgrown mountains.
They hope to avoid this terrifying sight,
  and the dreaded presence.

XIII.

In vain do they call out to the mountains,
  “Fall on us and hide us
From the Judge's anger, hotter than fire,
  for who can endure it?”
No hiding place can conceal sinners
  from His gaze at all,
Whose flaming Eye sees everything
  and reveals the darkest secrets.

XIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

The Judge approaches, sitting high
  on a grand throne,
Among a crowd of powerful Angels,
  behold, Israel’s Holy One!
The greatness of His Presence
  and frightening Majesty,
Amazes Nature, and every Creature
  is truly terrified.

XV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

The mountains are smoking, the hills are shaking,
  the earth is cracked and torn,
As if it should completely dissolve
  or be pulled from its center.
The sea is roaring, leaving the shore,
  and withdrawing in fear;
The wild animals run into the sea,
  as soon as he gets near,

XVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Whose bright glory, whose amazing might,
  whose imperial power,
So far outshines anything that
  exists in earthly realms,
That the words of humans (nor an angel's pen)
  Can express it adequately;
And so I have to leave it alone,
  to avoid overstepping.

XVII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Before his throne, a trumpet sounds,
  proclaiming the Day of Judgment;
Immediately he shouts, “You Dead, arise
  and come to Judgment.“
As soon as he says this, it happens;
  Graves are opened;
All the dead bodies rise at his command,
  and show his mighty Power.

XVIII.

Both the Sea and Land obey him,
  their dead instantly give in;
The Fire and Air are forced to
  also offer up their dead.
The powerful Word of this great Lord
  unites Body and Soul, forever,
Both the righteous and the wicked,
  never to be separated again.

XIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

The same translates from mortal states
  to immortality,
All that survive and are alive,
  in the blink of an eye;
So they can last forever,
  for endless good or bad:
Both the saved and the damned
  are made to die no more.

XX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

His winged Hosts fly across all shores,
  gathering together
Both good and bad, both Living and Dead,
  and all to bring to Judgment.
From their hiding places, those creeping Moles,
  who hid themselves in fear,
They take by force, and quickly make
  appear before the Judge.

XXI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Thus everyone before the Throne
  of Christ the Judge is brought,
Both righteous and wicked,
  that good or bad has done.
A separation and different place
  by Christ is appointed
(To the sad sinners) between good and bad,
  between heirs of misery and happiness.

XXII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

At Christ’s right hand, the Sheep stand,
  his holy Martyrs, who
For his dear Name faced shame,
  troubles and sorrow.
Like Champions, they stood, and with their Blood
  sealed their Testimony;
Whose innocence, without blame,
  appealed to Christ, their Judge.

XXIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Next to whom there is a place
  for all of Christ’s suffering ones,
Who, when punished, neither despised
  nor faded away in their pain;
Who by the Rod were brought to God,
  and loved Him even more,
Not complaining or arguing
  when they were punished severely.

XXIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Moreover, those who loved so much,
  that had not faced such a trial.
As might force them into such great pain,
  and such deep self-denial.
Yet they were ready to bear the cross,
  when Christ called them to it,
And they rejoiced to hear his voice,—
  they're counted as Sheep too.

XXV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Christ's group of followers also stands there,
  whose faith was weak but sincere,
genuine believers (receivers of the Gospel)
  whose grace was small but increased;
And among them is a crowd of infants
  of babies for whom Christ died;
Whom he set apart in ways unknown
  to humans, for his own purpose.

XXVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

All stand before their Savior,
in long white robes dressed,
Their faces full of joy,
looking incredibly glad.
Oh glorious sight! Look how bright
dust piles are made to shine.
Transformed just like their Lord,
whose glory is divine.

XXVII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

At Christ’s left hand, the Goats stand,
  all whining Hypocrites
Who pretended to be Christ’s friends for their own gain,
  but nurtured deceitful spirits;
Who looked like Sheep, but they were pretending,
  (their hearts weren’t genuine,)
Who once mixed with Christ’s Lambs,
  but now must stay away.

XXVIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Apostates and runaways,
  those who have turned away from Christ,
The Devil has taken hold of,
  along with seven more evil spirits;
Deeply ingrained sinners, destined for torment,
  and the most severe pain,
Because they sinned with bitterness against the light,
  are also found there.

XXIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

There also stands a large group,
  who claim no profession
of godliness, nor have they tried
  to change their ways at all;
They knew better, but this sinful crew
  despised both the Gospel and the Law.
They resisted all of Christ’s knocks like blocks,
  and refused to be guided.

XXX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Moreover, there with them appear
  a countless number,
Of great and small, all wicked wretches,
  who broke God’s Law;
Idolaters, false worshippers,
  Profaners of God’s Name,
Who didn’t call on it at all,
  or took it in vain.

XXXI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Blasphemers who are crude and clever swearers,
  mocking Purity,
They hated God, disrespected his authority,
  and loved feeling safe;
Those who polluted the Sabbath, persecuted Saints,
  arrogant and proud men,
Who never cared for those who called them out;
  all stand among this crowd.

XXXII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Adulterers and Sluts
  were there, along with all the unchaste;
There were Greedy and Gluttonous,
  who gained wealth way too quickly:
Who used disgusting methods to elevate
  themselves to riches and worldly wealth,
Exploitation through trickery,
  by force, fraud, or sneaky schemes.

XXXIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Moreover, there were
  disobedient children.
And parents who misguided them
  by corrupt upbringing.
False witnesses and those who break their vows,
  murderers and violent people,
Witches, sorcerers, and bar patrons,
  stood all around.

XXXIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Their place there find all pagans blind
  that Nature’s light misused,
Although they had no joyful news
  of Gospel grace rejected.
There stand all Nations and Generations
  of Adam’s descendants,
Whom Christ did not redeem, whom he did not value,
  through unbelief;

XXXV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Who is no peacemaker, no mediator,
  to shield them from God’s wrath.
They can never escape; they must suffer
  with unending fire.
These countless souls, wringing their hands,
  and weeping all stand there.
Filled with anguish, their hearts are weakening,
  through self-inflicted fear,

XXXVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Fast by them stand at Christ’s left hand,
  the fierce and wild Lion.
The bold Dragon, that ancient Serpent,
  that drags Souls to Hell.
There also stand, under command,
  legions of unclean Spirits.
And hellish Fiends, who are no friends
  to God, nor to Humanity.

XXXVII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

With heavy chains and strong restraints,
  like prisoners of Hell,
They’re stuck in place before Christ,
  until He announces their fate.
These are void of tears, but filled with fears,
  and dreadful anticipation
Of endless pain and scorching flames,
  standing by for Damnation.

XXVIII.

All is quiet, both Goats and Sheep
  before the Judge’s Throne;
With a gentle look at his chosen ones
  then speaks the Holy One:
“My Sheep come closer, hear your fate,
  which brings no fear to you,
Who clearly now see and know
  your sins are pardoned.

XXXIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“It’s only right that you should be judged,
  so the world can see
No reason for resentment, when I judge
  and act fairly.
So, know this everyone, big and small,
  the reason why
These men stand at my right side
 and look so happy.”

XL.__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“These men are those my father chose
  before the world was created,
And to me gave, so I could save
  from death and condemnation;
For whom I took on flesh,
  was born of a woman.
And did prepare myself to endure
  unjust criticism and scorn.

XLI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“For then it was that I went through many sorrows;
That I drank from that bitter cup
  that made me sigh and groan.
I endured the pain of the Cross;
  yes, more than that, my Father’s anger
I faced, my blood I shed
  to save them from Hell-fire.”

XLII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Thus I valued, thus I saved
  all these from every Nation,
That they may be (as you see now)
  a chosen Generation.
What if before they were as wicked
  and worse than anyone?
And yet from all their guilt and bondage
  I set them free at once?

XLIII.__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“My grace to one is not unfair to anyone;
  no one can claim Election;
Among all those whose souls are lost,
  no one can blame Rejection.
He who can choose, or refuse,
  to save or condemn all people,
May this Man choose, and that refuse,
  redeeming whoever he wants.

XLIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“But for those I've chosen
  to be heirs of salvation,
I took on their punishment,
  and that’s why I set them free.
I carried their grief, and their relief
  came from my suffering.
So they could be assured
  of bliss and happiness.”

XLV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“And this grace they accepted,
  believing in my Name;
The true faith is shown by the fruits
  that come from it;—
Their repentance, their patience,
  their love and self-denial,
In enduring losses and bearing crosses,
  when tested;—

XLVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Their sin leaving behind, their joyful acceptance of
  my Yoke, their kindness
to the Saints in all their needs,
  and through them to me;—
These things show clearly, and make evident
  that their Faith is genuine,
And that they have gained a share in my reward
  and acquisition.”

XLVII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Their debts are settled, their peace is made,
  their sins are forgiven;
So right now I declare,
  and openly announce,
That Heaven is theirs, that they are heirs
  of life and salvation;
And they will never face
  death or damnation.”

XLVIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Come blessed ones and sit on thrones,
  judging the world with me;
Come and claim your happiness,
  and earned joy;
From now on, no fears, no worries, no tears,
  no sin shall bother you,
Nor anything that brings grief:
  Enjoy eternal rest.

XLIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“You took on the Cross, you endured loss
  for my Name's sake;
Receive the Crown that’s now yours;
  come, and take your Kingdom.”
Thus spoke the Judge: the wicked begrudge
  and grind their teeth in vain;
They see with groans those placed on Thrones,
  which only adds to their pain:

L. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

That those they wronged and killed,
  must now see their judgment!
Those they dismissed and once looked down on,
  must now be their judges!
It's decreed, this is their reward,
  and a glorious one at that;
With Christ, they sit, deeming it right
  to punish the wicked.

LI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

The wicked are brought to the Bar.
  like guilty criminals,
That often have committed bloody crimes
  and treason as their actions.
Among wicked men, none are too low
  to be ignored there;
Nor is anyone so high in status
  to be respected there.

LII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

The glorious Judge will favor
  neither Emperor nor King;
But everyone who has done wrong
  will face judgment.
And everyone who has done wrong,
  the Judge will fairly
Condemn to eternal suffering,
  and endless misery.

LIII.

So everyone, both the great and the small,
  the rich as well as the poor,
And those in positions of power, just like the lowest,
  must stand before the Judge.
They are brought forward, and there held
  before Christ’s Judgment seat,
With trembling fear to hear their fate,
  and feel the heat of his anger.

LIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

There, Christ asks everyone
  for a strict and clear account
of everything done under the Sun,
  which far exceeds
human understanding: they all come
  to this serious Trial,
and each offense with proof,
  so that there's no denying it.

LV.

There’s no excuse for their abuse,
  since their own Consciences
provide more proof of each person’s sin,
  than a thousand witnesses.
Though in the past this ability
  had been seriously misused,
(People could ignore it, or play around with it,
  when it was accusing them,)

LVI.

Now it arrives, and every sin
  is blamed on humanity;
It judges them and condemns,
  even if the whole "World" disagrees.
It causes such pain and torture,
  it brings about great distress,
That everyone is forced to confess
  against their own self.

LVII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

It’s pointless, besides, for people to hide
their smallest wrongdoing;
The Judge has seen and is aware
of all their wrongdoing.
He brings to light and open view
the work of darkness;
He reveals both new and old,
both known and hidden things.

LVIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

All dirty truths and hidden actions,
however secretly performed.
And long kept hidden, are now exposed
before the bright midday Sun.
Actions of the night, avoiding the light,
which sought out the darkest places.
To fearful blame and endless shame,
are there rightfully presented.

LIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

And just like all facts and bigger actions,
  every word and thought,
Wrong beliefs and selfish desires,
  will be brought to Judgment.
No sin is too small or insignificant,
  but it will be addressed here;
Nor is any sin too old that it can’t be
  finally punished now.

LX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

At this somber time, Christ asks a reason
  (with firm seriousness)
For grace rejected, for light misused
  so often, so willingly;
For talents given, but wasted
  and spent on their desires,
Which if used as they should have been
  Heaven could have been theirs;

LXI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Of times ignored, of resources turned away,
  of God's patience
And willingness, to bring
  that sought to touch hard hearts;
Why did chords of love not inspire,
  to feel shame or regret?
Why did serious warnings and advice
  not change their sinful path?

LXII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Why do we face punishments and bad things,
  and why are the judgments so harsh?
Did they not affect them at all,
  or create any real fear?
Why the promises of holiness,
  and new obedience?
They often made these promises, but always broke
  them, to God’s offense?

LXIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Why still heading towards Hell, without any concern,
  they boldly ventured,
And chose Damnation over Salvation,
  when it was offered?
Why did they value sinful pleasures and earthly treasures,
  like fools, more
Than Heavenly wealth, eternal health,
  and all of Christ’s riches?

LXIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Why, when he stood offering his Blood
  to cleanse them from their sin,
They would accept no saving Grace,
  but lived and died in it?
Such aggravations, where no excuses,
  nor false pretenses work,
Exaggerate and accumulate
  guilt more than can be expressed.

LXV.

They multiply and exaggerate
  people's major wrongdoings;
They bring down anger (as the Scriptures say)
  from God’s treasures.
So all their ways Christ clearly reveals
  to the view of people and angels,
And as they are makes them show up
  in their true colors.

LXVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Thus he finds that of all mankind,
  who stand at his left hand,
No mother's son hasn't done wrong,
  and broken God's command.
Everyone has sinned, even the best,
  and deserves God's wrath,
Leading to their own destruction
  and everlasting suffering.

LXVII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

All the people on Earth, big and small,
  have done wrong,
And must suffer (because it’s fair)
  endless misery.
Among all those here, none come,
  before the Judge’s face.
Who can clear themselves,
  from this cursed group.

LXVIII.

Nevertheless, they all express.
  (Christ granting freedom,)
What they have to say for their path,
  how they have lived, and why.
They all come forward and try to explain
  themselves by making arguments;
There, hypocrites, deceitful individuals,
  make such arguments as these:

LXIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Lord, in Your Name, and by the same,
  we Devils dispossessed;
We raised the dead and helped
  those who were in distress.
Our painful teaching and powerful preaching
  by Your own wondrous might,
Did thoroughly bring back to God from sin
  many a miserable soul.”

LXX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“All this,” he said, “might be allowed,
  and your situation won’t improve,
You still remain in chains,
  and many irons restrain you.
You who have brought the dead to life,
  and rescued them from the grave.
You were dead yourselves, yet never needed
  a Christ to save your souls.

LXXI.__A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“You who could preach and others teach
  what path leads to life,
Why were you slow to find that path
  and walk in it yourself?
How could you stand by and see or hear
  of others finally free
From Satan’s grip, while in his hold
  you remained more tightly bound?"

LXXII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Who thought you understood real Repentance,
  and Faith is my true Name,
The only way to free you completely,
  from punishment and shame,
Yet you didn’t genuinely strive to gain real Faith,
  that wouldn’t mislead,
Nor would you truly repent,
  to leave behind your bad deeds.”

LXXIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“His Master's wishes on how to carry out
  the servant who understood well,
Yet neglected his known duty,
  more troubles will come to him.
You twisted the truth against the truth;
  therefore it will be now
For Sidon and Sodom's land
  easier than for you.”

LXXIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“But we have been in your presence,”
  say some, “and eaten there.
Did we not eat your Flesh for food,
  and feast on Heavenly Cheer?
Whoever feeds on this will never need,
  as you yourself say,
Nor will they die forever,
  but live with Christ always.

75.

“We may claim, you gave a promise
  of your dear Love to us,
In Wine and Bread, which represented
  your Grace bestowed like this.
Of strengthening Signs, of sweetest Meals,
  have we so often shared;
And will we be abandoned by you,
  and completely forsaken?“

LXXVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

To whom the Lord, in response,
  gives a brief reply:
“I never recognized any of you
  who committed wrongdoing.
You say you’ve been in my presence;
  but then, how did you get there
With filthy clothes that ruined
  and completely tarnished my joy?

LXXVII.

“Dare you come close without proper respect
  to my sacred Table?
Dare you disrespect and make useless,
  as much as you can,
Those Mysteries, which anyone who values,
  and treats with care,
Will certainly be saved,
  and nothing will sway them?"

LXXVIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“How dare you boldly bring guests to enter
  in such a shameful way,
Among my guests at these Feasts
  that weren’t meant for you?
How dare you consume spiritual food
  that leads to your destruction,
While through your deceit you made vile
  such rare and great Salvation?”

LXXIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Your dreams fueled by heavenly Bread,
  your hearts driven by desire;
You loved the Creation more than the Creator,
  your souls clung to the dust.
And do you think through Hypocrisy,
  and hidden Wickedness,
To enter in burdened with sin,
  to lasting Happiness?

LXXX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“This excuse of yours shows how you've misused
  things meant for good.
And it makes it clear that you are guilty
  of my dear Flesh and Blood.
So those Seals and precious Meals
  that you value so much
As divine things, they Seal and Sign
  your path to Perdition.“

LXXXI.

Then came another group
  (those having been silenced),
Who drew near to the Most High,
  and boldly began to plead:
“We were sinners,” they said, “it’s clear,
  deserving of condemnation;
But didn’t we trust in you,
  O Christ, for complete Salvation?

LXXXII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“We did believe, and often received
your gracious promises;
We made sure to take our part
in endless happiness.
We prayed and cried, and observed fast days,
avoided sinful ways;
We were happy to hear your word;
we transformed our lives anew.

LXXXIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“We thought our sins had been forgiven,
  that our situation was good,
Our debts all settled, our peace made,
  our Souls cleansed with your Blood.
Lord, why do you reject us now,
  when we have not rejected you,
Nor completely neglected true holiness
  and a righteous life?“

L84. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

The Judge, furious at their pretend
  self-righteousness,
With a look that struck fear
  in them, responded:
“O shameless, unrepentant,
  and deceitful generation!
Do you think I can’t see
  the wickedness in your hearts?

LXXXV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“You neither received nor believed
  my promises of grace,
Nor were you wise enough to value
  my reconciled face;
But did presume to take on
  what was not yours to claim,
And challenged the children's bread,
  yet would not forsake your sin.

LXXXVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Being too bold, you took a firm grip
  where you had no real interest,
Deceiving yourselves with what you believed,
  everything you could have known.
You ran away, but you strayed
  with Gospel promises,
And perished, still lost
  in sins and trespasses."

LXXXVII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“How often did I reveal hypocrisy
  and the deceit of hearts
before your eyes, shedding light
  on a Christian’s duty?
But you clung to the end
  to your own empty beliefs,
No warning could change your mind; you chose
  to keep your own deceptions.”

L88. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“As for your desire to get a share
in Bliss; the fear of Hell,
And of a part in endless pain,
did compel you to it.
Your holiness and corrections,
as they were, came
From no genuine love for higher things,
But from some other motive.”

L89. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“You prayed and cried, you kept fast days,
  but did you do this for me?
No, you wanted to win
  greater freedom from your sins.
For all your boasts, you had nasty habits,
  which troubled your consciences.
Did you silence that voice
  with these actions?”

XC. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Your remorse, your hard work
  to read, to pray, to listen,
Were just to silence the loud voice
  of conscience in your ear.
If you loved the light, vain glory drove
  you to gather it for yourself,
So that those who seem wise might value you,
  and honor you even more.

XCI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Thus from yourselves to yourselves,
  your responsibilities all lead;
And just as self-love powers the wheels,
  so in self-love they conclude.“
Thus Christ exposes their worthless plans,
  and blatant wickedness,
And clearly shows that all their displays
  were just Hypocrisy.

XCII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Then a group of decent people came forward,
  who valued honesty and despised theft,
  and never wronged their brothers;
They argued: “You know us,
  that we lived without blame;
No pimps, no murderers,
  no fighters or troublemakers.

XCIII.

“ idolaters, adulterers,
  we were neither church-robbers,
nor fraudsters, nor cheats,
  but paid each man what he was owed.
Our path was just, our dealings honest,
  we were not wasteful spenders,
no lewd drunks, no drunken fools,
  no scandalous wrongdoers.

XCIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“We disliked wrongdoing and valued
  good conversations highly;
And through this, we earned a reputation
  and quite a bit of praise.
God’s Laws make clear that righteousness
  is what he values;
And to follow his words,
  is more important than any sacrifice.”

XCV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Therefore, obedience has always been our path;
  let our good deeds, we ask,
be recognized and rewarded
  by you, Lord, today.
And since we are all sinners,
  none of Adam’s descendants,
Not even the best, have acknowledged
  their mistakes.”

XCVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Then the Judge replied to their fear,
  “God desires and requires true piety,
  just as much as honesty.
Justice demands complete obedience from all of you;
  if you've fallen short in any way,
  that's a valid offense.

XCVII.

“On Earth below, where people owe
  a thousand pounds or more.
Could twenty pence really make up for it?
  Could that clear the debt?
Do you think you can buy happiness
  with just a portion of what’s owed?
Or for the value of one small part,
  should the whole be forgiven?”

XCVIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“And yet that part whose great desert
  you think to reach so far,
For your excuse do you blame,
  and will your bragging ruin.
However fair, however straight
  your way and work have been
Before people’s eyes, yet God sees
  the wrongdoing within.”

XCIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“God looks at the feelings
  and mood of the heart;
Not just at the actions,
  and the outer part.
Whatever goals foolish people claim,
  God knows the truth,
And by the goals they intend,
  their words and actions are judged.”

C. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Without genuine Faith, the Scripture says,
  God cannot take joy
In any deed that comes
  from any sinful person.
And without love, all actions turn out
  to be nothing but empty things;
They are dead works and pointless,
  which bring frustration.”

CI.

“Neither from true Faith, which puts out anger,
  has your obedience come;
Nor from true Love, which used to inspire
  Believers, has it grown.
Your argument reveals your intent
  in everything you’ve done;
You thought to climb Heaven’s high Wall
  with Ladders of your own.

CII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Your blinded spirit hoping to earn
  by your own goodness,
Needed no Savior but your actions,
  and faultless conduct.
You relied on what you could do,
  and stood in no need;
Your arrogant pride pushed me aside.
  And trampled on my Blood.”

CIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“All people have gone off track and done
  what God’s laws condemn;
But my Purchase and offered Grace
  not everyone rejected.
The Ninevites and Sodomites
  had no sin like this;
Yet as if all your sins were minor,
  you say, ‘Everyone messed up.’”

CIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Again you thought and mainly sought
  a name with men to acquire;
Pride sparked the bell that made you swell,
  and have yourselves admire.
It’s mean and worthless fruit, I swear,
  that grows from such a root;
True and genuine virtue
  doesn’t come from pride to shoot.”

Resume. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Your actions are worse than being poor;
  they're just sins dressed up
With shiny stuff that can't
  hide them any longer.
Even the best of them would condemn you,
  and ruin you all on your own.
Even if you were completely faultless,
  as if you had no flaws at all.”

CVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Your gold is just brass, your silver is worthless,
  your righteousness is sin;
And do you really think that with such honesty
  you can win eternal life?
You’re greatly mistaken if you believe that,
  you’re dreaming of being accepted;
Because what you have deserves shame
  and truly leads to damnation.“

CVII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

A wonderful crowd then began to speak up
  for themselves to say:
“We truly intended, Lord, to change,
  and to improve our ways.
Our real goal was to repent
  and make peace with you;
But sudden death took our breath away,
  leaving us no freedom.

CVIII.

“Short was our time, for in its prime
our youthful power was cut short;
We died young before we fully grew,
so our purpose was halted.
Let our good intentions to turn from wrong,
and to have left behind our sins,
Be accepted, Lord, by you,
and taken in good spirit.“

CIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

To whom the Judge: “Where you claim
  the shortness of time,
That since your birth you’ve lived on earth,
  to achieve saving Grace,
It was Free Grace that any time
  was given to you at all,
To turn from evil, defy the Devil,
  and call upon God.

CX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“One day, one week to seek
  God’s face with all your hearts,
A favor that surpassed
  the best of what you deserve.
You had the time; what was your reason
  to waste such precious hours?
What could you find, what could you think
  that was more urgent?”

CXI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Could you make time for pointless fun,
  for casual, reckless laughter?
For useless games and fleeting joys,
  that disappear in an instant?
Did you have time for physical pleasure,
  in your healthy, youthful days?
And yet no time to seek God’s face,
  and turn to Him in truth?

CXII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“In your younger years, past your fears,
  what if you were surprised?
You pushed aside the bad times,
  and planned for a long life.
You were often told, and could see,
  that Death spares no Age;
So why did you waste your time,
  and neglect your soul’s well-being?

CXIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Had you really wanted to change,
  and if that was your goal,
You would have shown some effort
  before your time ran out.
God doesn’t create treasures, nor does He find joy
  in lazy intentions;
Such nice pretenses are ugly wrongs,
  and cover for evil deeds.“

CXIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Then were brought in and accused of wrongdoing,
  another group,
Who by request got permission
  to make an apology.
They argued, “We were misled,
  as you already know.
By the example of those who had more resources
  than we;

CXV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Such, as they claimed to detest and hate every wicked way; Whose apparent grace, while we followed, led our souls astray. When people of talent, knowledge, and skill, Professing piety, Did this and that, it seemed to us We could take some liberties.”

CXVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

The Judge replies: “I gave you sight,
  And light to guide your path,
If you had cherished it and used it well,
  you wouldn’t have lost your way.
My Word was clear, the Rule was solid;
  Why did you abandon it,
Or disrespect it, and let people's behavior
  dictate your guidance?”

CXVII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“You knew this well: that God is true,
  and that most people are liars,
Professing holiness with their words,
  but in actions, they deny it.
Simple fools! who have rules
  to guide their lives.
Yet they refuse them, and instead choose
  to imitate vile people.”

CXVIII.

“But, Lord,” they say, “we went off track,
and did worse things,
Through those you chose
to be heirs of salvation.”
To which the Judge replies: “What you claim
doesn’t help your case,
But only shows how low you were,
and makes you seem even worse.

CXIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“You understood that what was good,
  was to be followed.
And that you should have let go of what was bad.
  On the other hand, your tendency was
  only to imitate
the flaws and oversights
  of good people who had changed for the better.

CXX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“But to show their holiness,
  or mimic their grace.
You didn’t care at all, nor once prepared
  your hearts to seek my Face.
They did repent and genuinely tore
  their hearts for all known sin;
You did offend, but didn’t change,
  to follow them in that.”

CXXI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“We had your Word,” some say, “Lord,
  but wiser people than us
Could never really understand it,
  and always argue.
How could we fools follow Rules
  so far beyond our understanding?
Which took so much effort to explain
  and confused the wisest men?”

CXXII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Was all my speech confusing and difficult?”
  the Judge then replied;
“It did have so much truth that's simple
  you could have easily understood.
But the difficult parts you never bothered
  to learn, or looked into;
And the things that were most obvious and clear
  you never put into practice.

CXXIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“The Mystery of Piety
  God reveals His truth to the young,
When He denies it to the wise,
  and keeps it hidden from the world.
If fulfilling God’s holy Will
  seemed good to you,
You would have sought the truth as you should,
  and done the good you knew.”

CXXIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Then another group appeared,
  and started to plead their case;
Among them, some of the best
  had such weak excuses as these:
“You know very well, as you can tell,
  we lived among your enemies.
Who hated Renate deeply
  and opposed goodness greatly.

CXXV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“We didn’t dare to profess our holiness,
  worried we’d be left alone
by all our friends, and as a result
  be looked down upon by the wicked.
We knew their anger could seriously threaten
  our lives and our possessions;
So, out of fear, we chose to fit in
  and not be any better than our peers.”

CXXVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

To whom the Lord sends this message:
  “O amazing deceptions!
To ignore the fear of God’s serious laws,
  and be more afraid of men’s anger and threats;
To fear hellfire and God’s intense anger
  less than the fury of people;
As if God’s anger could cause less harm
  than the anger of our peers!

CXXVII.

“To use such struggle, a worldly life
  to save and protect,
And be so unaware as not to care
  about the life that lasts!
This was your situation, who valued
  carnal peace more than true joys;
Who fed on dust, clung to your desires,
  and rejected my approval.

CXXVIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“To impress your family, men chase after love,
  to acquire worldly riches,
To protect yourself, these pursuits
  mean more than eternal health.
You had your choice, so celebrate;
  it was your decision.
For what you chose, you laid your soul bare
  to Perdition.”

CXXIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Who wouldn’t hate friends, life, and the state,
  with everything else for me,
give up and take up the Cross
  shall never be happy.
They are truly worthy to die forever,
  who prefer death to life;
Death is what they deserve who value
  my Father's friendship so highly.”

CXXX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Others plead, others argue, and quite a few,
  “Isn't God gracious?
His fairness and kindness,
  aren't they amazing?
Thus we believed; are we deceived?
  Can’t his great mercy,
(as we’ve been told for ages,)
  calm his anger's intensity?

C131.

“How can it be that God can see
his Creatures’ endless pain.
Or hear their groans and sorrowful moans,
and still keep his anger?
Can it be fair,
can Mercy have the heart.
To repay a few years’ offense
with eternal suffering?"

CXXXII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Can God take pleasure in such a sight
  as the misery of sinners?
Or what great good can our blood
  bring to the Most High?
O you who show your Glory most
  by forgiving sin,
Lord, would it please you to release
  and forgive us today!

C133.

“Wouldn't such Mercy bring
  greater fame to your name?
Wouldn't it lift your endless praise,
  more than our suffering?”
With that they stop, keeping quiet,
  but still don't stop crying;
Grief pours out a flood of tears,
  in which their words are drowned.

C134.

But it's all too late; grief is old news,
  when life is over.
The glorious King answered this way,
  and everyone listened to him:
“God is gracious,” he said; “like him,
  no mercy can be found:
His fairness and kindness
  extend to sinners everywhere,

CXXXV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“As can be seen by those that are here
  on my right side,
Whose stripes I endured, and settled the score,
  so they could stand free.
For surely none but God alone,
  whose Grace surpasses what people can imagine.
For those who were his enemies
  would have performed similar wonders."

C136. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“And no one but he would have shown such kindness
  and patience to you for so long, who did him wrong,
  and brought his Judgment down.
How long did you receive patience, stubborn people?
  How often did love gently urge you
  to turn to the Lord?

CXXXVII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“With chords of love, God often tried
  to sway your stubborn hearts;
Yet your wickedness
  still resisted His attempts.
If now at last Mercy is gone
  from you forever,
And Justice takes Mercy’s place,
  don’t hold that against Him.”

C138. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“If God has finally become angry
  after being so patient for so long,
And now you face punishment for love,
  that seems fair enough.
Your worsening behavior has put an end
  to His usual kindness,
Mercy denied and Grace wasted
  require strictness.”

C139. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“It’s now the right time that every crime
be brought to justice;
Anger long held back and often restrained,
must finally be released.
Justice, stern, cannot hold back
to punish sin any longer,
But must impose with a firm hand
consequences on the wrongdoer.

CXL. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“In vain do they pray for mercy,
  the time has passed,
Who didn’t care to get a share
  while there was still time.
The man whose ear refused to hear
  the voice of wisdom’s call,
Earned this reward, that no one cares
  for him in his misery."

CXLI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“It aligns with fairness
  and with God’s sacred Law,
That those should die forever
  who let Death take its toll.
The soul that sins earns Damnation,
  for that is what the Law dictates;
This Law is just; and therefore must
  such endure endless suffering.”

CXLII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Eternal smart is the desert
  even of the least offense;
Then don't be surprised if I give
  you this punishment;
But be more amazed that since such harsh
  and lasting troubles are owed
To every sin, you lived in it,
  who clearly knew the danger.”

CXLIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“God has no joy in crushing or destroying,
  and ruining miserable people;
But to show the glorious light
  of Justice is what He loves.
To reveal it, He truly hates,
  and completely despises all sin,
By punishing it as is most fitting—
  this will bring Him glory.”

CXLIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Then at the Bar are brought
  a bolder group,
Who, to escape the blame placed
  on them, reply:
“How could we stop breaking the law?
  How could we avoid Hell,
When God’s Decree has shut us out,
  and marked us for destruction?”

CXLV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Whoever God chooses for endless suffering
  by unchangeable Law,
Genuine repentance, fresh obedience,
  to save them is impossible.
Feeling sorrow for sin brings no good,
  to those who are rejected;
They can neither grieve nor truly believe,
  for they were never chosen.”

CXLVI.

“Of humanity's fallen race, who can truly attain Grace
  or Holiness?
Who can change their heart,
  if God doesn’t help?
If we had worked as hard
  as anyone else,
to earn God's love, all our effort
  and labor would have been in vain.”

CXLVII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Christ readily makes this reply:
  “I don’t condemn you because
You are rejected, nor yet chosen;
  but you have broken my laws.
It’s useless to twist your thoughts to try
  to separate the end from the means;
People foolishly try to part or break
  what God has joined together.

CXLVIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Who God will save, such will have
  the means of life to use;
Those he passes by will choose to die,
  and refuse the ways of life.
He who foresees and decrees,
  has ordered things in wisdom.
That man's free will, choosing wrong,
  will bring his will to pass.”

CXLIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“High God’s Decree, as it is free,
  does not force anyone
Against their will to good or bad;
  it doesn’t push anyone to Hell.
They get what they want whose souls perish
  with torment in Hell-fire,
Who would rather lose their souls,
  than give up a reckless desire.

CL. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“God did ordain sinners to pain,
  yet he sends no one to Hell
But those who strayed and have earned
  destruction through their own actions.
His desire is that no one is excluded from Bliss
  and endless happiness
Except those who wronged him greatly
  through deliberate wickedness.”

CLI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“You, sinful Crew! no one else knew
  but you might be chosen;
Why did you then condemn yourselves?
  Why did you reject me?
Where was your effort to earn that life
  which lasts forever?
You never knocked, yet you say God locked
  Heaven's door against you.

CLII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“It wasn’t a pointless job to knock and ask,
  while life went on.
Whoever sought Heaven as they should,
  and seeking ended up lost?
The humble, meek, who genuinely seek
  for Christ and for Salvation,
There’s no rule that says they’ll be
  doomed to condemnation."

CLIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

You say: 'But hopeless people,
  whom God has decided to condemn,
Cannot regret, nor have their hearts changed;
  nor can they change what they want.'
Not because of his Can is anyone
  sentenced to Hell,
But because of his Will to do wrong,
  and refusal to do right.

CLIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“I often stood offering my blood
to wash away your guilt,
And also my spirit to make you right,
so your souls wouldn’t be lost.
But you, wretched kind, rejected grace,
when grace was freely given,
No changed heart, no heavenly part
would you accept when it was offered."

CLV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Whoever deliberately ignores the solution,
  and the means to survive.
They have no one to blame but themselves,
  if they are now condemned.
You have only yourselves to blame,
  for the fate that awaits you.
You chose the path to your downfall,
  and you will perish by your own choice.“

CLVI.

These words shock and intimidate them all,
  discouraged and completely deflated,
Like the ones who stand on Christ's left side
  and can’t say a word back.
Then they were brought close with shaking fear,
  a countless number,
Of blind pagans and savage men,
  who broke God's laws;

CLVII.

Whose evil ways Christ exposes,
  and shows their sins clearly,
They plead their case to find relief,
  if not to clear themselves.
“Your Written Word,” they say, “good Lord,
  we’ve never experienced it;
We never rejected it, nor misused it;
  Oh, do not let it destroy us!”

CL158. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“You never abused or rejected
  my Written Word, you plead;
That’s true," he said, “so you shall
  be punished less.
You won’t suffer for any part
  of someone else’s offense,
But for your own wrongdoing
  receive the proper consequences.”

CLIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“But we were blind,” they say, “in mind;
  too faint was Nature’s Light,
Our only guide, as has been proven,
  to lead us to the realization
Of our fallen state,
  and cursed by Adam’s Fall;
How we were born and left helpless
  in bondage and in servitude.

CLX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“We didn’t know about Christ until now,
  nor how fallen people can be saved,
Otherwise, we wouldn’t have behaved
  the way we did.
We should have mourned, we should have turned
  from sin at your correction,
And been smarter through your guidance,
  for the sake of our own souls.”

CLXI.

“But Nature’s light didn’t shine so bright
  to show us the right path:
We might have loved it and made good use of it,
  and still gone off track.”
The Most High Judge responds:
  “You pretend to be ignorant.
Lack of vision and absence of light,
  keep you from heading toward Heaven.”

CLXII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“How did your mind become so blind?
  I once gave you knowledge.
Clarity of sight and judgment light:
  who took that away?
If you’ve lost it at your own expense,
  and completely ruined it,
Your own actions have caused the pain;
  you shouldn’t blame me.”

CLXIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Throwing yourselves into a pit of misery,
  your own wrongdoing led the way;
If I had shown my grace to no one,
  who would have been hurt?
If I showed it to just a few, and not to you,
  I offered a path to life;
My grace is so generous, you can clearly see,
  it gives you no reason for conflict.”

CLXIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

"It’s useless to say, you know very well,
  if you had known in time
Your suffering and solution,
  your behavior would have shown it:
You, sinful group, have not been honest
  with the Light of Nature,
Nor done the good you understood,
  nor acknowledged your Creator."

CLXV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“He who despises the light because it’s faint,
 has grown used to neglecting it,
Wouldn't he more likely appreciate the light
 if it were to shine brighter?
If you had loved and truly enhanced
 your knowledge and limited vision,
Your suffering wouldn’t have been in vain,
 your burdens would have been lighter.“

CLXVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Then to the Bar all of them gathered
  Who died as babies,
And had no good or bad
  impact personally;
But from the womb to the tomb
  were carried right away,
(Or at least before they sinned)
  who then started to plead:

CLXVII.

“If for our own wrongdoing,
  or disobedience.
We here stood at your left hand,
  just before the punishment;
But Adam’s guilt has affected our souls,
  his fault is placed on us;
And that alone has brought us down
  and completely ruined us.

168.

“Not us, but he ate from the Tree,
  whose fruit was forbidden;
Yet on us all of his tragic Fall
  the punishment’s placed.
How could we sin that had not occurred,
  or how is his sin ours,
Without consent, which to avoid
  we never had the power?”

CLXIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“O great Creator, why is our nature
  depraved and lost?
Why so defiled and made so vile,
  when we were not even born?
If it is just, and we must
  be counted as transgressors.
Please grant us Your mercy, Lord,
  which has freed us sinners.”

CLXX.

“Look, we see Adam set free,
  and saved from his mistakes,
Whose sinful Fall has split us all,
  and brought us to this point.
Can you deny us one chance to try,
  or to offer us Grace,
When he finds grace in your presence,
  who was the main offender?”

CLXXI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Then the Judge answered solemnly:
  God forbids such a fate,
That people should suffer forever
  for things they never did.
But what you refer to as old Adam’s Fall,
  and only his mistake,
You wrongly label as solely his,
  it was both his and yours.

CLXXII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“He was meant for all of humanity
  to be a public leader;
A shared source, from which everyone should grow,
  and he represented them all.
He stood and fell, succeeded or failed,
  not just for himself.
But for all of you, who now want to deny
  his fall and wrongdoings."

CLXXIII.

“If he had stood, then all his offspring
  would have been established
in God’s true love, never to budge,
  nor once to stray;
Then all his lineage, my Father’s Grace,
  would have enjoyed it forever.
And evil spirits by cunning tricks
  could never have harmed them."

CLXXIV.

Would you have mourned to receive
  so much good through Adam,
As would have been yours forever,
  if he had stood firm at first?
Would you have said, 'We never obeyed
  nor did we follow your laws;
It doesn't seem right to reward us,
  Lord, with such benefits?'

CLXXV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Since then, to be part of his well-being,
  you could have been satisfied,
You might understandably share in his betrayal,
  and in the consequences.
Thus, you were born in a hopeless condition,
  with nature so corrupted;
Death was your fate because you
  had acted in this way."

CLXXVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“You think, 'If we had been like him
  whom God trusted so much,
We surely wouldn’t have lost
  everything for a petty desire.'
If you had been in Adam’s place,
  you would have done the same things,
And thus would have fallen into the same sorrow,
  bringing yourselves and your own down with you."

CLXXVII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“I might refuse you once to test,
  or offer you some grace.
Though he finds grace in my sight
  who was the main offender;
Otherwise, my grace would stop being grace,
  because it wouldn’t be free,
If I can’t choose whom to release
  and I have no choice.”

CLXXVIII.

“If to one, then none should get anything.
  I will honestly give,
And to the rest, I won’t even think
  about showing compassion,
Whom did I harm? Will you envy
  and resent others’ good fortune?
Or accuse me, who refuses
  to help and heal yourselves?”

CLXXIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“Am I the only one who owns what’s mine,
  with no Master or no Lord?
And if I am, how can you claim
  what I offer to some?
Will you ask for Grace from me,
  and question what belongs to me?
Will you show me who to set free,
  and limit my Grace that way?

CLXXX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“You sinners are, and such a share
  as sinners may expect;
That's what you’ll get, because I save
  none but my own Elect.
Still, if we compare your sin with theirs
  who lived a longer time,
I admit yours is much less,
  though every sin’s a crime.

CLXXXI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“A crime it is, so in happiness
  you shouldn't expect to stay;
But for you, I will permit
  The easiest spot in Hell.”
The glorious King replied,
  they stop and plead no more;
Their Consciences must admit
  his Reasons are much stronger.

CLXXXII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Thus all men's pleas the Judge easily
  answers and refutes,
Until every one, both big and small,
  is silenced and mute.
Empty hopes are cut off, all mouths are shut,
  sinners have nothing to say,
Except that it’s just and fair
  they should be damned forever.

CLXXXIII.

Now what’s left but for Christ to condemn the pain
  and endless suffering of humanity,
which is what they truly deserve?
Oh, the sad states of sinful souls!
  Oh, the wretched and lost!
It would have been better if they had never seen
  the sun, or if they had never been born.

184.

Yeah, it would be good if they could
  just wipe themselves out.
And stop existing, free
  from such a terrifying condition.
Oh happy Dogs, and Pigs, and Frogs,
  yes, Serpent’s offspring!
Who do not fear this fate they hear,
  and the sentence of Damnation!

CLXXXV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

This is their situation so hopeless;
  their sins are completely exposed;
Their pride and wrongdoing
  are laid bare for all to see.
As they are wicked and disrespectful,
  so are their numbers greater
Than dust in the air, or than their hair,
  or grains of sand on the beach.

CLXXXVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Divine Justice is offended,
  and demands satisfaction;
God’s fiery wrath is ignited,
  and burns fiercely against them.
Their strict Judge completely rejects,
  and dismisses all their pleas,
So that no man, or anyone, dares
  to make any further response.

CLXXXVII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Their mouths are closed, and each man is made
  to feel silent and ashamed,
They have nothing in their minds,
  to blame Christ’s Justice.
The Judge is fair, and he must punish them,
  nor will he show any Mercy,
Because the time for Mercy has gone
  for any of this group.

CLXXXVIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

The Judge is powerful; wrongdoers
  can't escape his power;
No one can run away and hide,
  or escape from his grasp.
Their situation is bleak, for there’s no Advocate
  to argue their case;
No one to stop their punishment,
  or to mourn their misery.

CLXXXIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Oh, what a gloomy day! Where will they
  turn for help and support?
Will they reach out to God above with hopes to change
  their biggest adversary?
His anger is strong, and no amount of tears
  can cool its burning heat;
His Word is firm that they will be thrown
  into the fiery Lake.

CXC. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

To Christ their Judge? He judges
  them to the Pit of Sorrow;
Nor will he hear, or cry or tear,
  nor give them a break tomorrow.
To Heaven, alas! they cannot go,
  it's closed against them;
To get in there (Oh, what a heavy burden)
  they have lost all hope.

CXCI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Unto their treasures, or to their pleasures?
  All these they have abandoned;
If they had full coffers for big offers,
  their gold wouldn't be accepted.
To the place where they were born
  and educated?
Look! Christ starts, for their huge sins,
  to shake the Earth’s foundation;

CXCII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

And eventually, the blazing sky
  will fall like molten metal
around them, to heighten their fears,
  and worsen their dread.
To the angel's good that has always stood
  in their honesty,
Should they turn to it, and make
  their plea nonstop?

CXCIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

They have no skills, nor do they want
  to work for any comfort;
They won’t even care to see them burn,
  nor ask for their freedom.
To evil men, their brothers
  in sin and wrongdoing,
Should they cry out? Their situation is the same;
  they’re in the same trouble.

CXCIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Ah! cold comfort and poor support,
  from comforters like those!
Ah! little joy in company,
  and fellow-sufferers!
Such will only add to their heartache,
  and increase their misery,
Because they brought themselves low
  and many others too.

CXCV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Unto the Saints with sad complaints
  should they themselves apply?
They’re not downcast nor affected
  by all their suffering.
Friends stay away and don’t show
  what Prayers or Tears can do;
Your Godly friends are now more friends
  to Christ than to you.

CXCVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Where gentle love once touched men's hearts
  to feel for each other,
And shared in others' pain
  amid their worries,
Now that kind of compassion is out of style,
  and completely ignored;
No friends so close, but Saints to listen
  to their judgments can endure.

CXCVII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

One brother sees another
  in his shocked state.
Yet he doesn't feel sad at all,
  nor does he feel pity for him.
The righteous Wife feels no sorrow
  nor can she cry a tear
For the sad situation of her dear Husband,
  when she hears his fate.

CXCVIII.

He who was once a husband, hurt
  by the knowledge of his wife’s distress.
Whose caring heart felt the weight
  of all her troubles,
Will no longer mourn as he did before,
  because of her unfortunate situation.
Even though he now sees her as
  a damned forsaken person.

CXCIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

The caring Mother will claim no others
  from all her many children,
But only those who stand at Christ’s right side,
  cleared through his Blood.
The devoted Father would now much prefer
  his wayward Son to be
In Hell with Demons, for all his wrongs,
  burning forever,

CC. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Than God most High should suffer injury
  by sparing him from pain;
And He does rejoice to hear Christ’s voice,
  declaring him to suffer.
Thus having all, both great and small,
  convinced and silenced,
Christ proceeded to read their sentence,
  and this is what He said:

CCI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“You sinful beings and cursed spirits,
  who do evil,
Leave me now and forever
  to endless misery;
Your share awaits in that lake,
  where fire and brimstone burn;
Endure the pain that you deserve,
  as it rightfully demands.”

CCII.

Oh piercing words, sharper than swords!
  What! to leave You,
Whose face has always brought
  the greatest Joy!
What! to leave (to our pain),
  from You Forever!
To be forever banished
  in the company of Devils!

CCIII.

What! To be sent for punishment,
  and the flames of burning fire!
To be surrounded, and also confused
  with God’s vengeful anger!
What! To endure, not for a time,
  these torments, but forever!
To be released, or to be eased,
  not after years, but never!

CCIV.

Oh fearful Doom! Now there's no space
  for hope or help at all;
The sentence is final and will endure;
  Christ will not reverse it.
Then you might hear them scream and cry
  into the air with their outcries;
The horrible noise of their sorrowful voices
  ascends to the skies.

CCV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

They twist their hands, their helpless hands,
  and grind their teeth in fear;
They scream, they shout in deep anguish,
  and gnaw their tongues in horror.
But leave quickly, don't wait,
  Christ doesn’t care about your cries;
Go to Hell, where you can scream,
  and roar forever.

CCVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

That word “Leave,” no matter how they feel,
  sends every wicked person,
With great power, the very same hour,
  far from the Judge’s Throne.
They’re driven away by the strong force
  of his death-threatening words;
They run away quickly, as if in a rush,
  even though they’re very reluctant.

CCVII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

As dry chaff blows away, like dust in the wind,
  so are they driven away,
  and can find no refuge.
They hurry to the Pit of Woe,
  guarded by strong angels.
Who, to carry out Christ’s holy will,
  watch over this wicked crowd;

CCVIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Whom they have brought, as they are taught,
  to the edge of Hell,
(That dark place, far from Christ’s presence,
  where Death and Darkness reside,
Where God’s fierce anger ignites the fire,
  and vengeance fuels the flames.
With piles of wood and a flood of brimstone,
  so no one can extinguish it,)

CCIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

With iron chains, they bind their hands
  and cursed feet together,
And throw them all, both big and small,
  into that lake forever,
Where day and night, without rest,
  they wail, and cry, and howl,
From the torturous pain they endure,
  in body and in soul.

CCX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

For day and night, despite their efforts,
  the smoke of their torment rises.
Their pain and grief have no relief,
  their anguish never ends.
There they must lie and never die,
  though they feel like they're dying every day;
There they must lie, always dying,
  and never fade away.

CCXI.

They’d gladly die if they could,
  but Death won’t come for them;
God’s terrible wrath has made their bodies
  immortal forever.
They exist to suffer in misery,
  and endure endless pain;
And they must live as long as God is fair,
  so He can torment them like this.

CCXII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

But who can describe the plagues of Hell,
  and the ultimate torments?
Who can explain their miserable condition,
  and endless fears?
Who suffers the least and yet feels the most,
  but realizes that punishment
Could lead them to nothingness
  if God didn't intervene.

CCXIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

The smallest amount of suffering
  felt there is beyond compare;
The slightest pain they endure
  is more than they can bear.
But God's great power from hour to hour
  supports them in the flames,
So they won't lose a single bit
  nor by its strength be tamed.

CCXIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

But, oh, the sadness they experience
  (they more than anyone else)
Who had the truth, and knew what was right,
  yet chose not to follow it!
The sevenfold pain that comes to them
  and is theirs to bear.
Who would not accept Christ's free Grace,
  nor listen to His call.

CCXV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

The Amorites and Sodomites,
  even though their suffering is intense,
Still find some relief compared to these,
  who endure so much more.
Almighty God, whose Iron Rod,
  to strike them never hesitates.
Most clearly shows His rare Justice
  by punishing these men’s sins.

CCXVI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

The pain of loss tosses their souls,
  and causes incredible distress,
To think of what they’ve thrown away
  through their own wicked choices.
“We could have been saved from sin,”
  they think, “and lived better.
Having the gift of Heavenly peace,
  and rejoicing in God’s love.

CCXVII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

“But alas, alas, alas, our souls!
  we wouldn’t be happy;
And so we endure God’s wrath here
  for all eternity.
Experience and painful awareness
  will be our harsh teachers,
Who wouldn’t believe, nor trust
  our sincere preachers.”

CCXVIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Thus they will lie and wail and cry,
  tormented and tormenting;
Their wounded hearts with poisoned darts,
  but now, too late, regretting.
There let them stay in the Flames of Hell:
  there we leave them to burn,
And back again to the men
  whom Christ frees, we return.

CCXIX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

The Saints look on with brave hearts
  and grateful amazement,
to see all their enemies
  now facing punishment.
Then they sing to their King
  a song of endless praise;
They honor his name and declare
  that all his ways are just.

CCXX. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Thus with great joy and melody
  to Heaven they all rise,
to praise Him there with the sweetest songs,
  and hymns that never end;
Where with long rest they will be blessed,
  and nothing will annoy them,
Where they will see as they are seen,
  and enjoy the ones they love.

CCXXI. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Oh glorious place! Where face to face
  God can be seen,
By those who were sinners while here,
  with no dark veil in between!
Where the sunshine and divine light
  of God’s bright presence,
Rest upon everyone,
  with the sweetest influence!

CCXXII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

Oh blessed state of the Renate!
  Oh wonderful happiness.
To which they’re brought beyond what thought
  can reach or words express!
Grief’s watercourse and sorrow’s source
  are turned into joyful streams;
Their old distress and heaviness
  have vanished like dreams.

CCXXIII. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

For God above, in loving arms,
  warmly holds them close.
And fills their spirits with such joy,
  and pleasures in his grace,
That will never fade or grow old,
  with constant use;
Nor do they fear losing God's favor
  by taking it for granted.

CCXXIV. __A_TAG_PLACEHOLDER_0__

For there, the Saints are complete Saints,
  and truly holy ones;
Free from all the sin that lived within
  their mortal bodies;
Made Kings and Priests to God through Christ’s
  incredible love,
There to stay and there to rule
  with Him eternally.

What human can measure Eternity?
  Or understand it with intelligence,
  or the power of memory?
The high sky isn't so high,
  compared to Hell's depth; that's small;
The world, so vast, is just a step,
  when looked at in that context.

It’s a vast ocean
  with no shore or limit,
A deep abyss, where
  there’s no bottom to be seen.
This world has existed since the Flood,
  almost four thousand years,
And before that, it lasted
  over sixteen hundred years.

But what’s the time from the world's peak,
  to today,
If we try to measure Eternity
  in that way?
The whole time since Creation,
  though long, is still quite small.
When compared to Eternity,
  it's less than the tiniest bit.

Tell every star, both near and far,
  in heaven’s bright sky
That shows up throughout the year
  of any rank or kind:
Tell every tree you can see
  in this vast wilderness,
Up in the woods, down by the rivers,
  in thousands of miles traveled:

The total is huge, but not so huge
  that you can’t continue
to count the leaves from
  the trees up above:
Include also the drops that you
  think are
in April showers, which bring forth flowers
  and blossoms abundantly:

Number the Birds and living Souls
  that fly through the Air,
The winged Creatures in all their territories
  beneath the starry Sky:
Count all the Grass as you go by
  through many pastures,
And the dewy Drops that rest on the tops
  of Herbs and Plants:

Number the sand on the shore,
  and the particles in the air;
And try your best with humans and animals,
  to count every hair:
Gather all the dust, if you wish,
  and add it to your total:
Yet the years of sinners' tears,
  will far outnumber it all.

Nothing added to nothing can ever make anything,
  nor can zeros create a total;
Nor can finite things reach infinity
  by multiplying them:
A seashell could just as well
  be used to empty the ocean
As finite things and calculations
  can limit eternity.

Oh happy are those who live forever,
  with Christ in Heaven above!
Who know that nothing will
  take away his love.
Eternity, Eternity!
  Oh! if it weren’t for you,
The Saints in bliss and happiness
  could never be truly happy.

For if they were worried
  that this joy might end,
It would disturb (if not ruin)
  and disrupt their peace.
But knowing it will last
  as long as God is alive;
These thoughts, adding to their happiness,
  bring them complete fulfillment.

Cheer up, you Saints, in times of need
  and with so many sorrows;
Lift your head, shake off all fear,
  and ease your cries.
Your struggles and hardships
  will soon be gone;
Your sweet rewards and blessed dreams,
  will last forever.

Lament and grieve, you who must burn
  in those raging seas:
If you ever face such a fate,
  say goodbye to peace forever.
Oh, what a sorrowful and hopeless state,
  that can never be fixed,
Until God's will changes, or until
  eternity comes to an end!

If anyone poses this question to me:
What! do the years of sinners' tears
  have no limits or no end?
It breaks our hearts to think of the pain,
  and suffering that lasts forever;
And to hear of a fire that will go out,
  or never be extinguished,

I’ll answer them honestly (and let them take
  my words as I mean them;
For this is all the comfort
  that I have to offer them:)
When Heaven stops overflowing with peace
  and all happiness.
Then Hell may stop being the place
  of pain and suffering.

When Heaven feels like Hell, when bad is good,
  when virtue becomes vice;
When wrong is right, when dark is light,
  when nothing is worth a price;
Then may the years of sinners' tears
  and suffering come to an end.
And all the hosts of damned souls
  escape from Hellfire.

When Christ above stops loving,
  when God stops reigning
And is no longer as before
  the World’s great Sovereign;
Or isn’t just, or favors lust,
  or delights in men’s sins;
Then wicked people (and not until then)
  can make their way to Heaven.

When God’s great power is diminished,
  by foreign might,
Or weakened over time
  through the passage of years;
When drowsiness overcomes Him,
  and puts Him into a deep sleep,
Then sinful people may break their chains,
  and escape from their prison.

When those in glory feel truly sorry
  they can’t change their place,
And wish to live with those in hell,
  never to see Christ’s face;
Then those in pain might find freedom
  and be adorned with glory:
Then hellish fiends could become Christ’s friends,
  and heirs of heaven’s story.

Then, oh! poor people! What! Not until then?
  No, not an hour earlier;
For God is just, and so must
  torture them forever.
Eternity! Eternity!
  You make hard hearts bleed:
The thought of you in suffering,
  does make people cry out indeed.

When they remember what's still behind
  and think about this word NEVER,
That they must there be made to face
  God’s Vengeance forever:
The thought of this is more bitter
  than anything else they feel;
Yet what they feel, nor heart of steel,
  nor flesh of brass can endure.

To lie in misery and endure
  the terrible pains of Hell,
And know that there they will
  for eternity dwell;
And that they are as far from rest
  after fifty thousand years,
Twice counted, spent in punishment,
  as when they first arrived there;

This, oh! this makes Hell’s fiery sparks
  much more unbearable;
This makes weak beings and damned spirits
  bear their torment helplessly.
This makes men bite, out of fierce spite,
  their very tongues in two;
This makes them scream in great terror,
  and multiplies all their pain.

And now, good Reader, I come back again
To talk with you who have taken the time
To read through and pay attention to what came before;
And I’ll share a bit more with you.
Please listen to what I’m saying,
So that God may hear your voice another day.
You have a soul, my friend, and so do I,
To save or lose; a soul that cannot die;
A soul that’s worth more than gold or gems;
A soul more valuable than crowns and diadems;
A soul, originally created like its Maker,
And made in God’s image to be a partaker:
On the wings of its highest abilities,
Aimed to soar above the starry skies,
And not to rest until it understands
That it possesses the greatest good.
And since the Fall, your soul still has
Those faculties of reason and will,
But oh! how much twisted and out of place,
As if they belonged to someone else, not you!
Your understanding is dreadfully darkened,
And reason’s sight in spiritual matters is clouded,
Or it might be totally blind; your will inclined towards evil.
And nothing else; a slave to the devil;
Who loves to live, and lives to break the law.
But avoids the path of God and holiness.
All your affections are disordered,
And thus misled by stubborn passions.
What do I need to tell you about your crooked path,
And numerous wicked wanderings every day?
Or that your own transgressions are more
In number than the sands on the shore?
You’ve become a mass of wickedness,
And you might think in terror about your doom,
Until your soul is washed in the flood
Of Christ’s most precious, cleansing blood.
That, and only that, can wash away your sin,
Which you were born into and have lived in for long;
That, and only that, can calm God’s anger,
If grasped with true faith,
Now while the day and means of grace last,
Before the opportunity slips away.

But if you, man, live without Christ,
And Death catches you in your natural state,
(Who knows, that might be your situation?)
How will you stand before the Judge,
When he appears in blazing fire?
And comes to reward the ungodly men.
To enforce proper vengeance upon those
Who didn’t know him or were his enemies?
What will you say to his demands,
When he asks you for an explanation
Of everything you’ve said or done?
Or left undone, or desired in your heart?
When he challenges you like this:
“What reason did you have to hate your Maker;
To take up arms against your Sovereign,
And maintain hostility towards him?
What harm has God Almighty done to you?
What good has he denied you that could have drawn you in?
What evil or injustice have you found
In him that might have caused you harm?
If you weren’t genuinely harmed or afraid,
What drove you to such hostility?
What made you forsake the Fountain of life,
And turn to broken pits for satisfaction?
What reason did you have to dishonor God,
Who has never stopped showering you with mercy?
Because the Lord was good, have you been evil,
And aligned yourself with the Devil?
After all his care, you repay him with disdain,
And respond to his love with hatred?
Is this the result of God’s great patience,
To become bolder in your disobedience?
To rebel against the depths of his Love?
Is this truly how to put his kindness to use?
Stand still, you Heavens, and be amazed,
That God should be treated so unjustly by man!
Listen, Earth, and tremble at the sin
Of those who have lived among you!
But you, wretched soul, have added to all
Your other faults and criminal actions,
The damning sin of willful unbelief;
Of all wrongdoers, you have been the worst.
Yet when the time came, you could have been set free
From Sin, Wrath, and punishment through me;
But you refused to accept Gospel Grace,
Nor embrace Eternal Life on my terms.
As if all your violations of God’s Law
Weren’t enough to draw
Eternal Wrath upon your head, you have despised a Savior,
Rejected me, and trampled on my favor.
How often have I stood knocking at your door,
And been denied entry forever?
How often has my Spirit been resisted,
When I sent him to help you?
You don’t need anyone to plead
Your cause or to intercede for your soul:
Plead for yourself, if you have anything to say,
And pay your debt without delay.
See, you owe ten thousand talents;
Pay your debt or else go to prison.”

Think, think, man, when Christ reveals
Your hidden guilt and makes you see
The ugly truth of all your sinful mistakes,
And fills your soul with his overwhelming fears,
And shows you the blazing Pit of Hell,
Where everyone without him will dwell;
When he lays out the case,
How can you bear to look him in the face?
What will you do without an Advocate,
Or argue your case when your situation is hopeless?
Do you think you can brush him off with excuses?
Or will you hide and cover your wrongs?
Can anything be hidden from him,
Who sees the secret things of darkness?
Can you truly resist his Power?
Can you escape from his grasp by force?
Do you plan to run from his sight,
And save yourself from punishment by fleeing?
Or will you be eternally cursed,
And bear his Vengeance, letting him do his worst?
Oh! Who can withstand his furious anger?
Or endure the pains of Hell that are so intense?

If you can't handle his anger,
Or get any ransom after death;
If screams or tears can't change his heart
To forgive you or ease your pain,
But you're forced to be sent to hell,
With dreadful horror and shock,
Think, my friend, about your situation,
With fear and trembling (while you still can),
To reflect on your sin and misery,
And to seek out a remedy.
Consider seriously the gravity of your danger,
O child of wrath, and target of God's anger.
You're hanging over the pit of hell,
By a thin thread, and you don't care at all?
There's only a step between your soul and death;
All that’s left is for you to stop breathing,
(Which could happen tomorrow, or even sooner)
And then you are lost forever.
Let this shake your complacency,
And make you take a look around quickly.

How can you rest for an hour or sleep at night,
Or find joy in your creature comforts?
Or distract yourself with vain toys,
While you're so close to the burning lake?
How can you live without tormenting fears?
How can you stop the flood of tears?
Yeah, tears of blood, I might almost say,
If such tears could fall from your eyes.
What will it profit you to gain the world,
And lose your soul and self forever?
Eternity hangs on a small point;
The person is lost who misuses this short life.
Just as the tree falls, that’s how it lies,
And a person remains in the state they die.
Who dies happy will rise happy again;
Who dies cursed will stay cursed.
If Death leaves you bound in Sin and Wrath,
At Judgment, you'll be found under Wrath;
And then woe, woe that you were ever born,
Oh wretched person, forsaken by Heaven and Earth!
Think about this, all you who forget God,
Who disregard all His threats,
Lest He start to tear your souls apart,
And there be no one to save you.

Oh you who now sing away care and fear,
Think often about that daunting Day,
When the Heavens will roar with a huge noise.
And with a horrifying, heart-stopping voice
Will pass away, rolling up together,
Like people folding their clothes;
When the Elements will melt with intense heat,
And living Creatures will perish in the same.
And altogether will expire in those flames,
Which will ignite the Earth’s Foundations.
Oh! what shock will fill your hearts,
And how you will start cursing yourselves.
For all your wretched laziness and negligence,
And disbelief and deep Unrepentance,
When you hear that dreadful Sentence passed,
That all the wicked will be thrown into Hell!
What horrors will seize your Consciences,
When you hear the useless, sorrowful cries
Of those forced to leave
For the place of eternal torment!
What! when you see the sparks flying out of Hell,
And look at the Dungeon where you’re meant to stay,
Where you must remain forever
In anguish and unbearable pain!
What! when your hands and feet are tied together,
And you’re thrown into the Lake forever!
Then you will truly understand what you hear,
That Hellish pains are more than you can handle,
And those Torments are a hundred times
More terrible than anything you’ve ever heard.

I'm not saying this to upset you, good reader,
Before the right moment, but to keep you
From rushing toward your own downfall,
In such a dangerous and deadly way.
We who have experienced Jehovah’s fears,
Encourage people to repent of their mistakes.
And turn to God in time before His Decree
Comes into play, and then there’s no way out.
If in the night, when you’re deep asleep,
A friend of yours who’s keeping a better watch,
Should see your house engulfed in flames,
And you nearly trapped inside:
If that friend were to break down your door and wake you,
Or pull you out of danger by force,
What! Would you respond poorly to their kindness,
Or scowl at them for their good intentions?

Such, my friend, is your current state
And danger, being unrepentant.
Wake up, and then you’ll see
That your peril is greater than you can imagine.
Lift up your eyes and witness God’s fierce anger
Preparing an unquenchable fire
For all who live and die unrepentant.
Wake up, wake up, Sinner, and repent,
And don’t argue because I’m trying to warn
Your soul, to save it from eternal harm.

Perhaps you have thoughts like these:
“I hope I can enjoy my pleasures
A little longer, and refresh myself
With those delights that satisfy the body,
And yet repent before it’s too late,
And get into a good place.
I hope I have many years ahead,
And enough time to deal with these matters,”
Presumptuous heart! Is God obligated to give
More time to those who want to live
Like rebels, who think they can tarnish His glory
With wickedness, and then feel sorry afterwards?
Will He be made a slave to your desires,
Who will judge you and all ungodly people?
Can you consider sin enjoyable, and yet admit
That in the end, it leads to bitterness?
Is sin something that must bring you sorrow,
And would you play around with it another day?

O foolish man who loves to enjoy
What will distress or destroy you!
What did Samson gain from his Delilah?
What did David gain from his Bathsheba?
One became a slave, lost both his eyes,
And his enemies made sport of him;
The other writes, as a sign
Of God’s displeasure, that his bones were broken,
Besides the troubles he faced afterwards.
To punish him for his terrible fall:
His own son Amnon, using deceitful tricks,
Wickedly violates his daughter Tamar:
His second son, more beautiful than good,
Hands stained with his brother’s blood:
Soon after, aspiring to the throne,
He tries to bring his gentle father down;
With hellish rage, fiercely persecuting him,
And brutishly dishonoring his concubines.
Read whoever wants to, and think about what you read,
And you will find little joy in evil deeds.

Moreover, consider this: the longer
You live in sin, the stronger your sins will become;
And then it will be even harder
To leave those wicked places you love.
The Black Moor could as easily change his skin,
As old sinners can leave their usual sins.
And who can say what will happen to you,
Or where your soul might be in just one day?
We see that Death spares neither old nor young,
But takes them both by surprise;
For in a moment, while people are crying out for peace,
Destruction catches them suddenly.
You, who this morning are full of life,
Could be a corpse and damned ghost by night.

Oh! Don’t think that it will help you on your deathbed to regret your sins; Instead, remember how many have been taken away, And had no chance to pray for mercy even once. It’s only just for God to deny repentance To those who put it off until they die. And late repentance hardly ever proves genuine, Which, if it fails, you know what must happen; For once this short life comes to an end, You can never fix what went wrong. Believe me, putting things off Until it's too late is both your sin and Satan's trick, By which he deceives great multitudes. How many thousands have already been led To ruin and confusion by this strong delusion, Whose souls are now held in iron chains, In thick darkness facing eternal pain! They thought they had many years left, just like you do now, But they were completely deceived, and so might you be.

Oh! then, my friend, don’t waste your time,
And don’t make your situation worse with rebellion.
Oh! don’t put off Repentance until tomorrow,
Don't dare to borrow
Another day to indulge your desires,
Lest God (who is most Holy, Wise, and Just)
In anger says to you, for your own fear,
“This night, the demons will take your soul away.”

Now seek the face of God with all your heart,
Acknowledge to Him how vile you are.
Tell Him your sins deserve eternal wrath,
And that it’s a wonder that He has
Allowed you so long to breathe,
When He could have taken you by sudden death,
And sent your soul into the lowest pit,
From where no price could ever ransom it;
And that He may most justly do it still,
(Because you deserve it) if He wants to.
Yet also tell Him that, if He pleases,
He can forgive your sins and set you free,
And that in Christ His Son He may be just
And justify all those who trust in Him;
That though your sins are of a crimson hue,
Christ’s blood can cleanse you completely.
Tell Him that He might make His glorious name
Even more wonderful by covering your shame;
That mercy may be greatly magnified,
And justice also fully satisfied.
If He chooses to acknowledge you in His Son,
Who has paid dearly for mankind’s redemption.
Tell Him you have an unbelieving heart,
Which hinders you from coming for a part
In Christ; and that although His terrors frighten you,
You can’t come until He is pleased to draw you.
Tell Him you know your heart is so bad,
And your condition is so incredibly sad,
That even though salvation is free,
You cannot come and take it until you’re brought.

Oh! beg him to soften your stubborn will
To come to Christ so he can take away your desires.
Look up to Christ for his appealing power,
Which he shows in a crucial moment;
Who says, “When I am lifted up,
I will draw all kinds of people to me.”
Oh! keep your focus on him with genuine effort
And respectful fear in every Ordinance;
Pay earnest attention to his Call,
Whose voice makes deaf people hear and dead people live.
So weep and mourn, so listen, pray, and wait,
Until he sees and takes pity on your situation,
Who is more ready to give you his Grace
Than you are willing to accept it;
Yes, he has enough power to bring you home,
Even if you have no strength or desire to come.

If he delays in answering your request,
Know that often he does it for the best;
Not to push us away from his door,
But to make us ask him even more;
Or to lead us to confess each day,
And realize our unworthiness in some way.
Oh! Don’t get tired, but keep on trying
To ask his Grace until he hears you crying;
And don’t leave him, nor walk away,
Until Compassion's cloak is yours, come what may.
Eternal Life will reward your efforts,
If you find in the end, you’ve gained more than hurts.
For if the Lord is pleased to hear your pleas,
And forgives your huge wrongs with ease,
You’ll have every reason to rejoice and admire
And praise his Grace, who granted your desire.
Then you’ll see your work was worth the cost,
And the good you gain far outshines the lost.
Nor will you mourn the loss of sinful pleasures,
Replaced by Heavenly joys and lasting treasures.
The yoke of Christ, which you once thought was tough,
Will then feel light and never rough.
For why? The love of Christ will drive you to find
Joy in what once caused you pain of any kind.
The path of Wisdom will be a joyful track,
And you’ll choose to spend your days right back.

If your soul has reached such a point,
Oh bless the Lord and praise His Grace.
You who recently had a reason to feel sad,
Can now rejoice and be extremely glad;
For your situation is as happy now
As it once was painful and low.
You have become as rich as you were poor;
As blessed now as you were cursed before.
For being cleansed with Christ’s precious Blood,
You have a share in the greatest Good;
God’s anger towards your soul is soothed,
And in His Christ, He is pleased with you.
Yes, He looks upon you with a gentle
And kind expression, as His child.
He has become your Father and your Friend,
And will protect you from the cursed Fiend.
You need not fear the roaring Lion’s rage,
Since God Almighty Himself will engage
To hold your soul in everlasting arms,
Beyond the reach of any harmful harms.
Whatever suffering you may face here,
The Lord will rescue you from all of them.
He will keep you safe by His wondrous Might
Until you reach that rich inheritance in Light.

O sing for joy, all you who are renewed,
Whom Christ has brought into this blessed state!
O love the Lord, all you his saints, who has
Redeemed you from eternal wrath!
He has made your souls live by dying,
And what he bought at a great price he gives freely.
Commit yourselves to walk in all his ways,
And learn how to live to honor him.
The time is short for you to serve him here;
The day of your deliverance is drawing near.
Lift up your heads, you upright in heart,
Who have a share in Christ’s purchase.
Look, he rides on a shining cloud,
With angels’ voices and trumpets sounding loud.
He comes to save his people from all their enemies,
And punish those who oppose Holiness.
So come, Lord Jesus, come quickly, we pray;
Yes, come and hasten our Redemption Day.